News

08/19/2014

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME® AND MUSEUM GEARS UP FOR ALAN JACKSON EXHIBIT OPENING

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 19, 2014 – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is gearing up for the forthcoming exhibit Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, with an opening-weekend-only artifact on display and special, exhibit-related programs.

Country fans and car enthusiasts take note. From August 29 through September 1, Jackson’s 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible will be on display in the museum’s Curb Conservatory. Having saved his money since he was 12 years old, Jackson bought the car when he was 15. He restored it with his dad, Gene, and drove it throughout high school before selling it to put a down payment on his first home with wife Denise. Several years later Denise tracked down the car and gave it to Alan as a Christmas gift. The T-Bird served as inspiration for his 2002 song “First Love,” and, in 2008, the car (and Denise) appeared in Jackson’s music video “Good Time.”

In addition to the car display, the museum is offering a trio of exhibit-related programs for the opening weekend. On Saturday, August 30, Jim McBride, a frequent collaborator with Jackson, will participate in a Songwriter Session at 11:30 a.m. Later that day, at 1:00 p.m. families are invited to participate in a guided tour, When Daddy Let Me Drive: The Museum’s Cool Cars, highlighting the classic vehicles on display in the museum’s galleries. Finally, on Sunday, August 31, the museum will screen Alan Jackson: The Greatest Hits Collection (1995).

Further down the road, Alan Jackson will take the stage in the museum’s new 800-seat CMA Theater as its 2014 Artist-in-Residence on October 8 and 22. Both Wednesday night concerts start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public at NOON (CDT) on Monday, September 8, and can be purchased at countrymusichalloffame.org/artist-in-residence.

There is no charge to view Jackson’s T-Bird in the Curb Conservatory. All programs are included with museum admission and free to museum members.

Among the artifacts featured are:

Monumental Mementos—items from some of Jackson’s milestone music videos, album covers and award show appearances—including the motorcycle from the cover of the album A Lot About Livin’ (and a Little ’Bout Love); water ski from the “Chattahoochee” music video; Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque; Grand Ole Opry member induction trophy and more.

Industry Accolades—ACM Top New Male Vocalist (Jackson’s first award); 1995, 2002, and 2003 CMA Entertainer of the Year; ACM Milestone Award; Grammy for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”; CMA plaque celebrating 20 years in country music; 10- and 50-million sales plaques and more.

Country Couture—Jackson’s first Stetson cowboy hat; the jacket Jackson wore when he signed his record deal; jacket from the cover of the album Here in the Real World; overalls worn in “Summertime Blues” music video.

Poet’s Pen—lyrics for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” “Remember When,” “First Love,” “Drive,” and “A Woman’s Love.”

Family Program: When Daddy Let Me Drive: The Museum’s Cool Cars
Start your engines! This guided tour for youth ages 5 to 15 and accompanying adults will highlight the classic vehicles on exhibit in the museum, including Elvis Presley’s Sold Gold Cadillac, Keith Whitley’s motorcycle, the Bandit Pontiac Trans Am and—on display this weekend only—Alan Jackson’s first car, a 1955 Ford Thunderbird. Learn what makes these cars special, and get ideas to create a design for your own dream car. Meet in the Taylor Swift Education Center. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members. Children and up to two accompanying adults may attend the program and tour the museum at a discounted rate.

Sunday, August 31 2:00 p.m.

Film Screening: Alan Jackson: The Greatest Hits Collection (1995)
The faded color and tatter of his denim jeans may change over time, but Alan Jackson’s music has been consistently country for twenty-five years. In 1995, only six years into his career, Jackson had sold over 20 million albums and been named CMA Entertainer of the Year. Watch the videos of his biggest early hits, from “Blue Blooded Woman” (his first single, in 1989) to “Tall, Tall Trees.” Other videos in this collection include “Chattahoochee,” “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” and “Livin’ on Love.” 75 minutes. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

These programs are made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the foundation also operates CMF Records, the museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B and Hatch Show Print®.